Step 1:

So, here's how it all started. I found a camera lens in the garbage, and I'm going to apologize right away for not taking a picture of it BEFORE I took it apart. I thought I was going to fix it.

But upon dis-assembly, the inner lens was cracked.

Step 2:

So the idea hit upon me to build my own Lightsaber. I completely dis-assembled the lens and started fiddling with how each piece could be spun or fit onto another. Basically I just played around.

For example, this is how I figured the pommel would look.

Step 3:

For the emitter end, I toyed with a knob that I had picked up for a dollar at Ocean State Job Lot. but it really didn't seem to be the solution. So I had some old hard drive bits from drives that I have taken apart. (for security reasons....)

using a drift and a hammer, the drive parts come apart. They're only press fit.

I did sand down the drive motor so it would fit in the same spot as the old lens. Thank goodness for a belt sander!

Step 4:

And then that piece was screwed onto the larger lens piece! OOOooooo we were excited!

That was the end of day 1. I was surprised I slept that night as I couldn't wait to get back and finish it!

Step 5:

as for the pommel end, I ran a screw into the old lens cap to hold the D-ring on. then that got screwed to a secondary piece.

The camera lens, just says "made in Germany" and had a zoom feature and has markings from 5 to INF. So not much help there. It was in the trash, so who knows what it went to.

As far as the hard drive pieces, all the hard drive parts come from the 5.5" hard drive from a desktop machine. I destroy hundreds of them a year and save various bits. The end of the lightsaber consists of a motor with spindle and one of the spacers.

Experiment with parts, and create your own design, as any Jedi would have to.

Number 10 is the most important. I basically look around at stuff people throw away and my brain clicks over into sculpture mode. What can I make out of that!? Right now I'm building a Raygun over at therpf.com and once it's done, I'll create an instructable about that as well. There's a lot of cool stuff hidden inside an old printer, or oscilloscope... take things apart, fiddle with them, build cool stuff! :)

Some say "Imitation is the sincerest form of Flattery" but I think Inspiration is much more important. You took an original idea, used yourown skills and creativity to make something that is inspired by someone else but still uniquely YOURS. Well done indeed, and congratulations on documenting the process to share with the rest of us too.

so far behind closed doors I've made all sorts of Vrrrrrtz sound effects! There's enough room inside it, and it's easily taken apart, that I could get a toy lightsaber with all the electronics and stuff it inside to get the noises. But for now it will remain a static hero prop to be properly displayed in my studio. (next to my Captain America WWII shield)

About This Instructable

Bio:I'm an actor/tech/IT/graphics/editor/writer kind of guy. I do a fair share of voice over work and have the full time gig at Bard College at Simon's Rock. While waiting for machines to do things, I h...read more »